Dish Network Corp. Chairman Charlie Ergen said Tuesday he isn’t concerned that his customers won’t be able to watch election returns tonight on CNN, since the satellite TV provider blacked out the channel as part of a programming dispute with Time Warner Inc.

Not having CNN on election night would have been a “disaster” 15 to 20 years ago, Mr. Ergen said on a conference call to discuss third-quarter results, but now “it’s not a top...